Aaaarrrrgh ! (XP bugs)

I don't know what's happening, but my xp has started bugging on me in an incredibly annoying way lately.
I've been using this installation (through a ghost image) for the last 2 years and it was always fine. I've ghosted it back again only a few months ago. But this time something went wrong.

Here are the symptoms :
1- Files and folders keep setting themselves to "read only", which keeps me from modifying them until I next reboot.
A typical example of this : I move files in and out a folder. Then I want to rename that folder, but get a message saying I can't and that it might be protected. I look at the properties and see it's "read only". If I untick that, it changes back by itself.
Same goes on with files, except the error message says someone else or another application might be using it, when that's not the case.
And even if I wait several hours and not touch the pc, I still can't change them.

2- The 'view' setting in Windows Explorer keeps changing back to "thumbnails", even though I set it at "details, and choose "apply to all folders" in the folder options.
That only happens in some folders.

It's driving me nuts !

I'm prolly going to be re-installing soon. But I wanted to wait until I could buy a new sound card. So I'm asking if any of you has a solution to offer in the meanwhile. I'd appreciate very much.
Thanks.

Not sure about #1, but #2 was bugging me for a while too. I ended up deleting the thumbs.db file in the affected folder from a command prompt, and everything went back to normal after that.
Give it a shot...see if that helps.

#1: In explorer, open C: select all hit properties->Security->Check full access for all accounts listed. Apply.
#2: Get a folder set up the way you want it. Hit Folder options->View->Uncheck cache thumbnails and finally the button at the top to apply to all folders.

Not sure if it is related to your problem, but to get the Security tab in XP Pro you'll have to disable "simple file sharing" (folder options - view), in XP Home you'll have to boot into safe mode to an administrator account.

#1: In explorer, open C: select all hit properties->Security->Check full access for all accounts listed. Apply.
#2: Get a folder set up the way you want it. Hit Folder options->View->Uncheck cache thumbnails and finally the button at the top to apply to all folders.

Hope it helps

Click to expand...

Ok.
So you mean, in the security tab, I go through all the accounts one by one and check all the "allow" boxes ?

I was going for an Audigy2 at first.
This is not my main puter for music, but I do record with it, and I transfer music from tapes and vinyl records often enough.
So when I saw how affordable those M-Audio are, I quickly forgot about SoundBlaster, their crappy converters and crappy customer service.